Scots dance hopeful realises Bolshoi dream

A teenager from Renfrewshire has become the first Scot to win a place at Moscow's Bolshoi Ballet Academy by securing the funding to fulfil her dream thanks to the Genesis Foundation.

Hayley Stobo, from Renfrew, said she was "ecstatic" that the Genesis Foundation had agreed to back her.

The 16-year-old is one of only a handful of British girls who have ever been picked to train at the academy in its 230-year history.

She will fly to Moscow next month to begin her three-year course after being offered a place by sending tutors a 10-minute DVD of her performances.

The teenager was unsure if she would be able to pursue her dream; however, as she did not have funding and tuition fees alone cost around £13,000 a year.

Her mother wrote to hundreds of organisations asking for sponsorship before the Genesis Foundation stepped in.

The Genesis Foundation is a UK-based charity which aims to nurture and develop emerging talents until they reach a point of sustainability.

John Studzinski, founder of the Genesis Foundation, said: "It is absolutely crucial that the exceptional talent of girls like Hayley are recognised in order for them to gain the necessary support to become independent artists.

"For many young, aspiring artists it is incredibly difficult for them to fulfil their dreams without any assistance and we are very proud to see the Genesis Foundation's commitment pay off."